Cockayne Systems appoint Managing Director following significant new client wins.

Cockayne Systems, a joint venture between Edwards Engineering and DPS Group, has announced the appointment of Donald Ross as Managing Director following a number of significant new client wins with both independent distilleries, larger spirits groups and bottlers.

With over 50 years’ experience, the Perth-based company is a leading manufacturer of cask filling and disgorging solutions, controls and meter calibrations for the whisky industry.

Ben Carter, Director, Cockayne, said: “We’re thrilled to have someone with Donald’s industry insight and management skills as part of our team. His background in the whisky industry with Grants and Diageo and his wider management roles enhances Cockayne’s ability to respond to customer demand, providing a broad range of cask handling, filling and disgorging solutions.”

A graduate of Heriot Watt’s Brewing and Distilling faculty, Donald started his career with Bairds Malt before moving into operational roles as bottling operations leader with William Grant and then subsequently managing two distilleries for Diageo. He has also held senior management roles in the offshore oil industry, most recently as General Manager of Destini Marine Safety Solutions where he successfully delivered projects for clients including BP and Chrysaor.

Donald said: “This is really exciting time to join Cockayne as their growth continues on an upward trajectory. Joining as Managing Director is the ideal opportunity to apply my wider management skills and brings a welcome reunion with the whisky sector. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the whisky supply chain while building on the firm’s reputation for customer focus and innovative solutions that truly benefit our clients.”

Issued on behalf of Cockayne Systems by Ginger PR.
For more information contact Elaine Fleming 07766 207 954 or elaine@ginger-pr.com

Notes to Editors

• The original business of J E Cockayne Limited was founded in 1965 and quickly established a reputation as the leading manufacturer of cask filling and disgorging solutions to the whisky industry.
• In 2016 the company was sold and after a number of difficult years, the business went into liquidation in August 2019. The intellectual property including all designs, software and know-how was acquired by Edwards Engineering and subsequently transferred into Cockayne Systems Limited, a joint venture between Edwards and DPS Group.
• Edwards Engineering has deep mechanical and structural engineering experience across all major industries and DPS Group is a leading automation and controls company with key OEM partnerships with Siemens, Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric. Together they have over 70 years combined experience serving customers in both the whisky and other industries.